InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ THE RETREAT ❯ Chapter 2

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

CHAPTER 2


"Lord Sesshomaru how much longer? We've been traveling for half a day!" whined an exhausted Jaken. Sesshomaru didn't even glance at him, "Shut up toad!"

Jaken threw himself on the ground "I'm sorry my lord please forgive this lowly servant, I only wished to know how much longer until we reach the retreat."

He looked down at the small demon, face betraying no emotions, eyes as cold as ice "As I told you yesterday - go ask my father."

Jaken was still grovelling, "Sorry sir."

Sesshomaru almost wished the imp had enough nerve to ask his father that question. They've been traveling for well over five hours now and the retreat was no where in sight. Sesshomaru was growing restless and his patience was wearing thin. He kept his eyes fixated on the back of his father's head. His feet allowed him to follow, but his mind wandered.

****flashback****

"Hah - hah take that you imp!" cried Sesshomaru while bringing down his katana.

"Hah I have you now!" exclaimed Miroku, blocking the attack.

"Try and block this!" growled the young demon lord, as he brought down his katana with much force.

Miroku managed to block it, then turned on his heel swinging his sword. He almost came close to getting Sesshomaru - but almost doesn't count.

Locking eyes with his opponent, Sesshomaru let out a growl.

"Don't you snarl at me!" yelled the ningen boy.

Raising an elegant eyebrow and smirking ever so slightly, the young lord knocked his friend's sword to the ground while pinning him in the process. He looked down at the boy, amusement clearly written across his face, "Puny human."

Miroku was a bit flustered. He looked up at his sparring partner, "Yeah well you're.. a... you're a DEMON!" he sputtered.

"Hah-hah-hah" Sesshomaru laughed,"Demon? Is that the only come back that you could think of?"

Miroku sat up and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm a fighter not a writer!" he declared.

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes "Fighter? You're a monk!"

Miroku looked up at him sheepishly "Alright! I'm a fighting monk, but definately not writer!"

The young demon just tilted his head to the side, "Well you're still puny!" he announced with forced arrogance.

The young monk feigned a hurt expression, "Yeah well you're still a..."

Suddenly a loud wail from a small child broke thru the air. Standing up Miroku looked at his friend and rolled his eyes, "Not again!"

Sesshomaru wasting no time in striding over to the blanket where the pups were sitting. He looked from the small ningen girl to his half-brother and then back to the crying pup. Shaking his head he glared at the young inu, "InuYasha! How many times have I told you DO NOT TOUCH THE PUP!"

His younger brother (who was only about 5 years old) stuck out his lower lip in a mock pout. "But she stwarted it!" he whined.

Cocking his eyebrow (yet again) he looked at his brother in disbelief. "Really? How can one as small as she start anything?" he asked.

InuYasha looked at his brother, "She WOOKED at me!" he declared dramatically.

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes at his brother, and then looked at the small child that still had tears rolling down her cheeks. Without a second thought he scooped her up into his arms. "Come young one." he cooed delicately (A/N yeah I know Sesshy cooing and being delicate? Just work with me here - ok, please!)

Miroku stood gaping at his friend for a moment. In the few years that he's known him, he'd never seen him respond to any children like that before.

Sesshomaru sent an icy glare towards his friend, while cradling the young Kagome. She snuggled into his chest and twisted her chubby fingers in his hair.

Miroku let out a small cough. "Wow Sessho, I didn't know you had a way with small children?" he chuckled.

Sesshomaru turned on his heel and started to walk away. Glancing over his shoulder he called back to the monk, "Grab the katanas and the half-wit and get back to the house."

****end flashback****


Sesshomaru's mind came back, still noting they were not at the retreat. Deep inside his head he let out a scream, 'When are we going to get there already!' Suddenly a soft breeze blew by and his eyes grew wide. Looking about him he realized that he recognized the trees around him, along with a few scents that were tickling his nose.

The retreat was just on the other side of the small forest they were entering. He kept his face as passive as ever, but his mind was reeling with joy. In a matter of moments he'd be back at the Higurashi Retreat, he'd see Miroku, and he'd get to do the one thing he hadn't been able to do in six-teen years, relax. After what seemed like an eternity, the caravan exited the small forest and began filing into a clearing. A few meters ahead of Sesshomaru stood the sacred tree, where he and Miroku played - er - I mean practiced everyday.

He couldn't help but let a small smile pass across his lips, as he looked past the tree and caught sight of the main house. The retreat had a series of different buildings, but the main house was the grandest. It was like a mansion, not quite a palace, but exquisite none the less. It looked exactly the same, as if six-teen years had not passed by. He looked at the stone path that went from the sacred tree to the main grounds.

He could still remember all the wings and rooms he and Miroku explored in their much earlier years. On one side of the main house there was a temple and shrine. As the Higurashi family were a long line of monks and mikos. They served Lord InuTaisho not out of fear, but out of respect. They knew they lived in his lands under his protection, and for that they were grateful. In the other lands, many demon lords did not like humans. They either didn't care what happened to them or they had them killed. Lord InuTaisho believed humans could be useful to demons and vice versa, so he swore to protect all that lived in his lands.

Sesshomaru's eyes drifted towards the main house where the family lived, and then to the guest quarters on the left. The guest quarters consisted of two buildins each one containing thirty bedrooms. On the far corner of the property, between the guest quarters and the path to the small forest, was a grand stable. Opposite of the stables was a rather large bath house that had separate bathing chambers. Sesshomaru was so busy glancing around that he didn't even notice the group of humans walking up the path to greet them.

A monk appeared before the group. Bowing deeply he addressed the great demon lord. "Lord InuTaisho the Higurashi family welcomes you again to our humble retreat. Please follow our servants, they will show you to your chambers." Sesshomaru stared at the man bowing in front of them. He was dressed in traditional monk's robes, but something about his voice was familiar. He was too young to be the head monk Mushin, Miroku's father, but he wasn't sure if... "Welcome Lord Sesshomaru and Master InuYasha" the voice bellowed. Sesshomaru couldn't take his eyes off of the bowing monk while he continued to greet everyone. It wasn't until he was a few footsteps away, that it finally hit him.

The somewhat spiky hair, violet eyes, and devilish grin, yup it was Miroku alight. Sesshomaru felt happy for a moment realizing that he was just greeted by his old friend. But then a dreadful thought entered his mind, 'If Miroku is greeting us... then that must mean that Mushin has passed on'. He bowed his head silently for a moment to show respect for the passing of the elder monk. He did not know the elder monk well, he had only seen him at meal times during his stays. But he knew he was a highly respected individual, even his own father held him in high esteem.

Once again lost in his thoughts, Sesshomaru started to growl when he felt his idiot half-brother poking at his back. "What is it now?" he growled. "Would ya look at that!" exclaimed a now excited hanyou. Sesshomaru allowed his eyes to follow in the direction of InuYasha's finger. There not too far from the path were four children and a young woman, a wet nurse most likely. The eldest child - a boy - who couldn't be more then twelve, was sparring with the young woman.

The other children sant on a nearby blanket watching the pair. On the blanket were two boys who were identical, no doubt twins, and looked like they were about nine years old. Also on the blanket was a small girl who appeared to be about four years old. Looking at the group Sesshomaru inwardly smiled, he was thinking of the pup that he had held so often when he was here last. 'Kagome' he whispered in his head. Mentally shaking his head, he stiffened up and continued with the caravan to their rooms. As he walked down the familiar path he silently wondered if Kagome was there and, if so, what did she look like.


Disclaimer: ..... I plead the 5th?....